Ferentz discusses Beathard's status, possible coaching changes

C.J. Beathard was recently named Iowa’s starting quarterback after completing 13 of 23 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a TaxSlayer Bowl loss to Tennessee.(Photo: Larry McCormack, The (Nashville) Tennessean)

IOWA CITY, Ia. – Pulling out another "anything's possible," Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz said he remained hopeful that recently-named starting quarterback C.J. Beathard sticks with the program into the 2015 season.

"I hope so. We've had a conversation," Ferentz said during his annual National Signing Day news conference. "He's back here training, working out. He's got a great attitude. But at the same time, too, I'm realistic about it. I realize anything's possible."

The news media and message boards got a lot of mileage when Ferentz said "anything's possible" during his pre-bowl radio show in response to whether Beathard would open the TaxSlayer Bowl under center instead of Jake Rudock, who has started every time he's been healthy in the last two seasons (25 of 26 games).

Rudock did end up starting vs. Tennessee, but Ferentz named Beathard – the subject of transfer rumors, fueled by his father, Casey – the starting quarterback in a 2015 depth chart released six days after the 45-28 loss.

Beathard has two years of eligibility remaining at Iowa, Rudock has one.

"We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out," Ferentz said of Beathard's status. "But he's been working and working hard."